Democrat Libbi Urban aims to flip Michigan’s 5th Congressional District seat

Libbi Urban, a former maintenance electrician, is running as a Democrat for Michigan’s 5th Congressional District. Urban spent 31 years in the steel industry and believes her experience as a union representative qualifies her to bring meaningful change to the district.

“For 15 years, I was an elected official for our United Steelworkers local,” said Urban. “I helped negotiate better pay, healthcare benefits, pension increases, and retiree healthcare for over 100,000 people. If I could represent that many people, I thought I could do that for our district as well.”

Listen: Democrat Libbi Urban aims to flip Michigan’s 5th Congressional District seat

Urban’s platform focuses on addressing the rising cost of living, safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, and protecting healthcare freedoms. She said that these issues resonate deeply with voters.

“The cost of food, gas and housing is a big one,” she said. “We want to cut high prices and corporate greed. People shouldn’t have to decide whether to buy their prescriptions or feed their family.”

Urban also took aim at her opponent — Republican Rep. Tim Wahlberg who currently holds the seat — claiming that while he talks about similar issues, his voting record tells a different story.

“He’s voted against all of these issues at one time or another during his legislative career,” Urban explained. “I listened to the people I represented in the union, and I plan to do the same across this district. I’ll take their concerns to Washington and fight for them.”

Urban also wants to protect family farms, and ensure they stay in the family. It’s an issue that hits close to home for her.

“My grandfather had a couple of farms, and we had to sell them because of inheritance taxes. It was devastating to us,” she said. “I want to make it easier for younger people to afford land and get into farming.”

Despite the 5th Congressional District being heavily Republican, Urban remains confident.

“I would have never put my name on the ballot if I didn’t believe I was going to win,” she said. “The people in the 5th District want change, and I am that change.”